IBM To Invest US$300 million in Costa Rica Creating 1,000+ New Jobs

The announcement was made by President Laura Chinchilla, who called the IBM initiative as "the most significant foreign investment in Costa Rica in the last 13 years and the largest ever in the field of services."

According to Costa Rica's most influential daily newspaper La Nacion, IBM is to invest US$300 million in opening a high technology professional services center which should generate 1,000 jobs in the next three years.

The announcement was made by the Minister of External Commerce (COMEX) and Patt Cronin, General Manager, Global Technology Delivery and Delivery Excellence, IBM Corporation. With them was the Costa Rica President Laura Chinchilla, the VP Luis Liberman and Senior Management of the Costa Rican Investment Promotion Agency (CINDE) and the Ministry of Science and Technology (MICIT).

This significant new investment by IBM is certainly a huge vote of confidence in Costa Rica, it's government and the people. IBM already employs around 1,000 people in Costa Rica and this new US$300 million investment means more high quality employment opportunities in the rapidly expanding high technology services field.

You can see some example of the pages and pages of IBM jobs available in Costa Rica right now at JobCentral.com

Patt Croin said that: "This center plays a vital role in IBM's ability to offer customer support at all levels-local, regional and global, in order to provide flexibility, scalability and the security our customers expect."

"We chose Costa Rica for our newest center for the strong working alliance which exists between the public and private sectors, for the quality of the city of San Jose, it's competitive business model and the talent and skills offered by the Costa Rican people."

There are however some challenges ahead as was discussed at the meeting where the Americas Society/Council of the Americas, together with the World Bank and the Government of Costa Rica hosted its first Latin American Cities Conference in Costa Rica.

At the conference Costa Rica's Minister of Education Leonardo Garnier pointed out that: "Education is not only important in terms of competitiveness but it is important for life. In Costa Rica, we have many strengths--we have schools in every corner of the country. However, we have a few major challenges. Perhaps the most serious one is that many people still aren't finishing high school."

Patt Cronin of IBM added that: "We know there is talent in Costa Rica and we can serve our global customers with the quality we need."

Written by Scott Oliver, author of 1. Costa Rica Real Estate Scams & How To Avoid Them, 2. How To Buy Costa Rica Real Estate Without Losing Your Camisa, and 3. Costa Rica's Guide To Making Money Offshore.

New investments in Costa Rica generate more jobs

It was confirmed in the news that next year the American chain Hard Rock Cafe will open its first restaurant in Costa Rica.

Mr. Gustavo Araya, president of the Ramada Herradura hotel, is a national businessman who was awarded the franchise, explained that in January of the present year he signed the agreement with Hard Rock Cafe to open two restaurants in this country. This was agreed after six months of negotiations.

Araya also reported that $2 million will be invested in the first restaurant. He nevertheless, did not want to mention the place where the restaurant will be located as it is still in negotiations with the real estate developers. The only specifics he made were that the restaurant would measure near 600 square meters and in addition would have a concert area and a store with sale of souvenirs.

Tom Pérez, Franchises Operations director for America, of Hard Rock restaurants indicated that the opening of the first restaurant is planned for the second one quarter of the next year. As for the opening of the second restaurant, a date is not yet predicted.

It fits to mention that this Hard Rock Café will be a tourist icon; this is a premium franchise restauraunt, which will garner a lot of attention.

On the other hand, we know that Hooters will open its third restaurant in Plaza Bratsi in Heredia. The operations manager indicated that this investment will cost $ 1 million and generated along with the other two locations about 60 jobs.

In addition, the Spanish chain of restaurants "Fiebres x el Futbol" will open a new store in Escazu and will be the first in Latin America. The restaurant will seat 100 people.

Costa Rica is bringing in the big tourist franchises, meaning big bucks ,but also a change in the authenticity of Costa Rica. I think it is a double bladed sword but it has to happen and in the end will provide incomes and further investment in Costa Rica.